Brilliant Example of Data-Driven PR

Notice, by the way, that this story didn’t go to Epicurious.com, owned by Conde Nast. There may be many reasons for this, but I think one reason is that “new” media companies think in a fundamentally different way than traditional media companies. (As an aside, Conde Nast is likely still reeling from the closure of Gourmet, a distraction that can’t be helpful to them in advancing PR into food media outlets.)

New media companies think of data as an asset and use it in creative ways. Also, new media companies value the voice of their community — because that is what this story is really about. Old media is all about elite editors telling the plebes what to think, read, watch, cook, eat, wear and buy. New media is about tapping into what the community is thinking, reading, cooking, eating, wearing and buying and then sharing that information with the rest of the community. It’s a fundamental shift in thinking — and one that points to the true future of media, news and publishing.